Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-03
She Killed Her Betrayer.
A VIRGINIA FARMERS DAUGHTERS TRIAL FOR MUR


A telegram to the New York Sun from Romney.
Va, october i, says: The third trial or Ann f
Offner, a young, unmarried woman for the killing
OF her paramount, Benjamin Brooks, terminated
here last night, and the case was given to the
jury. The jury disagreed and were discharged. II
IS said that ten were for acquittal and two for
conviction for voluntary manslaughter. The fair
prisoner will probably have q new trial at the
February term OF court.
Miss Offner is the daughter OF a well-to-do
farmer. She Is twenty-nlne years OF age and OF
fine personal appearance. About year prior to
the killing she met Brooks, who was about thirty
hve years OF age and good looking. He came here
from Staunton, Va, where, II was afterwards SAID
he had Wife and several children. He made his
living by working as a farm hand, good part OF
the time for Mr.. Onner Though considered as q
hard character he made great impression on his
employers daughter. The relations between the
pair soon began to cause talk. To satisfy public
opinion Brooks took the girl 70 Cumberland, where
MOCK MARRIAGE
was performed. Returning home, they lived to-
gether as man and wife. but the truth coming out,
they were compelled TO leave DINERS house. They
afterward lived on the Little Cacapon Creek.
Brooks finally left the woman and went home
Brooks afterward came 10 see her again Then
followed an indictment against the woman for IL
licit cohabitatiOD, but even this did not prevent
her seeing her paramOur when he came TO the
house, and at the time of the murder she was In a
delicate condition. On the morning or sunday,
August /, Miss Ofner left the house on a spirited
horse to bring the cows to be MIXED. The resi-
dence OF the DINERS stands some distance from the
main pike and about half a mile in front OF the
house Is a secluded thicket Of pines, which occu-
pies about one acre OF land. She went directly
into the thicket and after she had been there for
some time the cows were seen to come home by
themselves Soon afterward the report OF pistol
was heard from the direction OF the Jhicket No
afterward Miss Onner dashed through the pines
on her horse. She at once informed her parents
that
SHE had KILLED BROOKS,
but that 1t was IN self-defense. Three times has
the trial been begun. Twfce sbmething happened
to a juror, causing postponement. This time it
began on Tuesday last and ended yesterday. The
girl testified that on the Friday previous Brooks
Insisted that she should return to live with him,
and threatened her with knife. She went with
him at the time, but returned home at the first
opportunity. on the morning when she entered
the thicket she did not know there was soul
near, until Brooks jumped up, and, catching hold
OF her bridle said he had her where he wanted her.
and intended TO kill her. To use her own Ian
guage: he tried to pull me on the horse e.. He
volver. 1 had my revolver sticking In between
the buttons OF my dress. l pulled IT and shot
him. All the witnesses for the defense testified
that Brooks had been hanging around the house
for several days. and had said on various Occa-
sions that the girl should live with him or she
should not live with anybody.
HER AGED FATHER.
Mr. Reuben Offner, father OF the girl, is an old,
gray headed man way up In the eighties, and has
always been considered one OF the most honorable
and respected men in this region. His distress
and anxiety were painful to witness as he sat in
the courtroom day after day, entirely absorbed
in listening to the testimony adduced for and
against his daughter. When told to state what he
knew about the case he said: 81 recOllect the day
Benjamin Brooks was found dead. I went to
where he was laying with Ann and my wife. /
merely looked at the body and came back TO the
house. Ann took me TO the place. The pistol
with which she killed Brooks had been at my
house for some time. had IL loaded and put in
the SideoOard." Mrs. Ofner, the girls aged
mother, also testified, cOrrobOrating her husband
AS it has been the general opinion here that the
prisoner would be cleared, she has not been
closely guarded at the jail, Deing allowed consd-
cradle liberty, and sometimes even appearing on
day morning her manner betokened the deepest
distress. She was agitated and very uncertain as
to her probable fate. States Attorney Daily con-
Quoted the prosecution alone. The counsel for
the defense are the Hon. +. NJ. Reynolds OF Key
ser, senator FlOurnoy, and Col. Alexander Monroe,
OF this place. all eminent lawyers. The court
room has been crowded during the trial Judge
James ID. Armstrong presided.